A Closer Look At Microaggressions

/in /by

I have attached the chart and questions in the attachment below which is what need to be filled in.

A Closer Look at Microaggressions

(h/t http://breakingprejudice.org/teaching/group-activities/microaggression-activity/)

Review the definition of microaggressions that is noted in your textbook. Then, complete this assignment.

Below, there are 2 columns. Column A contains fairly commonly-heard statements. Column B contains ways in which those statements might be perceived as microaggressions. Read each statement in Column A. Think critically about how a person could interpret the statements in Column A as a “put down.”

Step One: Draw a line connecting the statement in Column A to what you believe is the best possible interpretation from Column B. After you have finished matching the statements with the interpretations, rewrite the statements so that they do not contain a hidden or negative message. For example, the statement “How long have you been in this country?” implies that the speaker believes the person was born in another country. A neutral wording of the statement might be “Where did you grow up?” or “How long have you lived in this town?” After you have rewritten the statements, answer the questions below.

A Closer Look at Microaggressions

(h/t http://breakingprejudice.org/teaching/group-activities/microaggression-activity/)

 

 

Review the definition of microaggressions that is noted in your textbook. Then, complete this assignment.

 

Below, there are 2 columns. Column A contains fairly commonly-heard statements. Column B contains ways in which those statements might be perceived as microaggressions. Read each statement in Column A. Think critically about how a person could interpret the statements in Column A as a “put down.”

 

Step One: Draw a line connecting the statement in Column A to what you believe is the best possible interpretation from Column B. After you have finished matching the statements with the interpretations, rewrite the statements so that they do not contain a hidden or negative message. For example, the statement “How long have you been in this country?” implies that the speaker believes the person was born in another country. A neutral wording of the statement might be “Where did you grow up?” or “How long have you lived in this town?” After you have rewritten the statements, answer the questions below.

 

 

“Statements” “Ways in which those statements could be perceived as insulting” Matching “Rewrite the statement from Column A so that it does not contain hidden or negative messages”
1. How long have you been in this country? a. The person was born in another country. ‘a’ Where did you grow up? Or How long have you lived in this town?
2. She is cute to be so dark (skinned). b. People with disabilities are less important, likeable, or competent.

3. [To a woman who is modestly dressed] What are you hiding? Why are you so sexually repressed? c. Being gay is unacceptable.

4. He is handsome to be so heavyset (overweight). d. Your experiences as a minority are invalid.

5. That’s retarded. e. Some people have ‘good hair’ but, generally, people with kinky/happy hair have ‘bad hair’.

6. Your hair is pretty to be so kinky/nappy. f. Some people are physically attractive but, generally, people with darker skin are less attractive.

7. That’s gay. g. You should conform to your expected gender role.

8. I don’t see color. h. All bodytypes aren’t attractive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discussion Questions

 

1. Famed African American Psychologist, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, refers to the cumulative impact of experiencing microaggressions as “death by a thousand nicks.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain your answer.

 

2. When people discuss microaggressions, a common response is that they are “innocent acts” and that the person who experiences them should “let go of the incident” and “not make a big deal out of it.” Do you agree or disagree with this point of view? Explain your reasoning.

 

3. If a person from a marginalized group pointed out to you that one of your comments was a microaggression, how would you respond at the time? Would it change the likelihood of your making a similar comment in the future? Why or why not?

 

4. Famed Asian American Psychologist, Dr. Derald Wing Sue, has argued that the impact of subtle prejudice, such as microaggressions, is more harmful than the impact of blatant discrimination. Do you agree or disagree with this proposition? Explain your answer.

 

5. Choose a microaggression from Column A. What do you think the possible intent was of the speaker? Does the intent change the impact of the statement for the person who experiences the microaggressions?